13.069

नृगोपाख्यानम्

nṛgopākhyānam

[नृग (nṛga) - Nṛga; (proper noun, name of a king); उपाख्यानम् (upākhyānam) - story; narrative;]

(Nṛga story;)

The story of Nṛga.

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; (a proper noun, name of a character); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhishma said;)

Bhishma said.

अत्रैव कीर्त्यते सद्भिर्ब्राह्मणस्वाभिमर्शने। नृगेण सुमहत्कृच्छ्रं यदवाप्तं कुरूद्वह ॥१३-६९-१॥

atraiva kīrtyate sadbhir brāhmaṇasvābhimarśane. nṛgeṇa sumahatkṛcchraṃ yad avāptaṃ kurūdvaha ॥13-69-1॥

[अत्रैव (atraiva) - here itself; कीर्त्यते (kīrtyate) - is recounted; सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - by the virtuous; ब्राह्मणस्वाभिमर्शने (brāhmaṇasvābhimarśane) - in the context of harming a brāhmaṇa; नृगेण (nṛgeṇa) - by Nṛga; सुमहत् (sumahat) - very great; कृच्छ्रं (kṛcchram) - difficulty; यत् (yat) - which; अवाप्तं (avāptam) - was obtained; कुरूद्वह (kurūdvaha) - O best of the Kurus;]

(Here itself is recounted by the virtuous, in the context of harming a brāhmaṇa, by Nṛga, the very great difficulty which was obtained, O best of the Kurus.)

Here, O best of the Kurus, the virtuous recount the very great difficulty experienced by Nṛga in the matter of harming a brāhmaṇa. (13-69-1)

निविशन्त्यां पुरा पार्थ द्वारवत्यामिति श्रुतिः। अदृश्यत महाकूपस्तृणवीरुत्समावृतः ॥१३-६९-२॥

niviśantyāṃ purā pārtha dvāravatyām iti śrutiḥ। adṛśyata mahākūpaḥ tṛṇa-vīru-d-sama-avṛtaḥ॥13-69-2॥

[निविशन्त्यां (niviśantyām) - while settling; पुरा (purā) - formerly; पार्थ (pārtha) - O son of Pṛthā; द्वारवत्याम् (dvāravatyām) - in Dvāravatī; इति (iti) - thus; श्रुतिः (śrutiḥ) - (it) is heard; अदृश्यत (adṛśyata) - was seen; महाकूपः (mahākūpaḥ) - a great well; तृणवीरुत्-समावृतः (tṛṇa-vīrut-samāvṛtaḥ) - covered over by grasses and shrubs;]

(While settling formerly, O Pārtha, in Dvāravatī—thus (it) is heard—a great well, covered with grasses and shrubs, was seen.)

It is heard that, in former times when settling in Dvāravatī, O Pārtha, a great well covered with grasses and shrubs was seen. (13-69-2)

प्रयत्नं तत्र कुर्वाणास्तस्मात्कूपाज्जलार्थिनः। श्रमेण महता युक्तास्तस्मिंस्तोये सुसंवृते ॥१३-६९-३॥

prayatnaṁ tatra kurvāṇās tasmāt kūpāj jalārthinaḥ| śrameṇa mahatā yuktās tasmiṁs toye susaṁvṛte ॥13-69-3॥

[प्रयत्नं (prayatnam) - effort; तत्र (tatra) - there; कुर्वाणाः (kurvāṇāḥ) - making; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; कूपात् (kūpāt) - from the well; जलार्थिनः (jalārthinaḥ) - those desiring water; श्रमेण (śrameṇa) - by effort; महतā (mahatā) - great; युक्ताः (yuktāḥ) - engaged; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; तोये (toye) - water; सुसंवृते (susaṁvṛte) - well-covered;]

(Making effort there, therefore, from the well, those desiring water, engaged by great effort, in that water well-covered.)

Those desiring water, making effort there, therefore, by great effort, being engaged, in that well-covered well, (seek water). (13-69-3)

ददृशुस्ते महाकायं कृकलासमवस्थितम्। तस्य चोद्धरणे यत्नमकुर्वंस्ते सहस्रशः ॥१३-६९-४॥

dadṛśus te mahākāyaṃ kṛkalāsam avasthitam। tasya ca uddharaṇe yatnam akurvan te sahasraśaḥ ॥13-69-4॥

[ददृशुः (dadṛśuḥ) - they saw; ते (te) - they; महाकायं (mahākāyam) - great-bodied; कृकलासम् (kṛkalāsam) - skeleton; अवस्थितम् (avasthitam) - situated; तस्य (tasya) - of him; च (ca) - and; उद्धरणे (uddharaṇe) - in lifting; यत्नम् (yatnam) - effort; अकुर्वन् (akurvan) - made; ते (te) - they; सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - by the thousands;]

(They saw the great-bodied skeleton situated. Of him, and in lifting (him), effort they made, by the thousands.)

They saw the great-bodied skeleton lying there, and thousands of them made efforts to lift him. (13-69-4)

प्रग्रहैश्चर्मपट्टैश्च तं बद्ध्वा पर्वतोपमम्। नाशक्नुवन्समुद्धर्तुं ततो जग्मुर्जनार्दनम् ॥१३-६९-५॥

pragrahaiś carmapaṭṭaiś ca taṃ baddhvā parvatopamam। nāśaknuvan samuddhartuṃ tato jagmur janārdanam ॥13-69-5॥

[प्रग्रहैः (pragrahaiḥ) - by bonds; by means of bindings; चर्मपट्टैः (carma-paṭṭaiḥ) - with leather straps; च (ca) - and; तं (taṃ) - him; बद्ध्वा (baddhvā) - having bound; पर्वतोपमम् (parvatopamam) - mountain-like; न (na) - not; अशक्नुवन् (aśaknuvan) - were able; समुद्धर्तुम् (samuddhartum) - to lift up; to rescue; ततः (tataḥ) - then; जग्मुः (jagmuḥ) - they went; जनार्दनम् (janārdanam) - to Janārdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa);]

(By bonds and leather straps, having bound him who was mountain-like, not being able to lift up, then they went to Janārdana.)

They bound him, who was like a mountain, with bonds and leather straps, but being unable to lift him, they then went to Janārdana. (13-69-5)

खमावृत्योदपानस्य कृकलासः स्थितो महान्। तस्य नास्ति समुद्धर्तेत्यथ कृष्णे न्यवेदयन् ॥१३-६९-६॥

kham-āvṛty-udapānasya kṛkalāsaḥ sthito mahān| tasya nāsti samuddharteti atha kṛṣṇe nyavedayan ||13-69-6||

[खम्-आवृत्य-उदपानस्य (kham-āvṛty-udapānasya) - covering the mouth of the well; कृकलासः (kṛkalāsaḥ) - a skeleton; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - placed; महान् (mahān) - great; तस्य (tasya) - of it; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; समुद्धर्ता (samuddhartā) - one who can remove (it); इति (iti) - thus; अथ (atha) - then; कृष्णे (kṛṣṇe) - to Kṛṣṇa; न्यवेदयन् (nyavedayan) - they reported;]

(Covering the mouth of the well, a great skeleton was placed. Of it there is not one who can remove (it), thus then to Kṛṣṇa they reported (it).)

A great skeleton was placed covering the mouth of the well. They then reported to Kṛṣṇa that there was no one who could remove it. (13-69-6)

स वासुदेवेन समुद्धृतश्च; पृष्टश्च कामान्निजगाद राजा। नृगस्तदात्मानमथो न्यवेदय; त्पुरातनं यज्ञसहस्रयाजिनम् ॥१३-६९-७॥

sa vāsudevena samuddhṛtaś ca; pṛṣṭaś ca kāmān nijagāda rājā. nṛgas tad ātmānam atho nyavedaya; t purātanaṃ yajña-sahasra-yājinam ॥13-69-7॥

[स (sa) - he; वासुदेवेन (vāsudevena) - by Vāsudeva; समुद्धृतः (samuddhṛtaḥ) - lifted up; च (ca) - and; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - (when) asked; च (ca) - and; कामान् (kāmān) - desires; निजगाद (nijagāda) - spoke; राजा (rājā) - the king; नृगः (nṛgaḥ) - Nṛga; तत् (tat) - that; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - himself; अथः (atho) - then; न्यवेदयत् (nyavedayat) - declared; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; यज्ञसहस्रयाजिनम् (yajña-sahasra-yājinam) - performer of a thousand sacrifices;]

(He, by Vāsudeva lifted up and asked desires, spoke the king. Nṛga, that himself then declared; ancient performer of a thousand sacrifices.)

He, having been lifted up by Vāsudeva and questioned about his desires, the king spoke. Then Nṛga revealed himself as that ancient performer of a thousand sacrifices. (13-69-7)

तथा ब्रुवाणं तु तमाह माधवः; शुभं त्वया कर्म कृतं न पापकम्। कथं भवान्दुर्गतिमीदृशीं गतो; नरेन्द्र तद्ब्रूहि किमेतदीदृशम् ॥१३-६९-८॥

tathā bruvāṇaṃ tu tamāha mādhavaḥ; śubhaṃ tvayā karma kṛtaṃ na pāpakam. kathaṃ bhavāndurgatim īdṛśīṃ gato; narendra tad brūhi kim etad īdṛśam ॥13-69-8॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; ब्रुवाणं (bruvāṇam) - speaking; तु (tu) - but; तम् (tam) - to him; आह (āha) - said; माधवः (mādhavaḥ) - Mādhava; शुभं (śubham) - auspicious; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; कर्म (karma) - action; कृतं (kṛtam) - done; न (na) - not; पापकम् (pāpakam) - evil; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; भवान् (bhavān) - you; दुर्गतिम् (durgatim) - bad state; ईदृशीम् (īdṛśīm) - such; गतः (gataḥ) - have attained; नरेन्द्र (narendra) - O king; तत् (tat) - that; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; किम् (kim) - what; एतत् (etat) - this; ईदृशम् (īdṛśam) - such;]

(Thus, speaking but to him, Mādhava said: 'Auspicious by you action done, not evil. How you bad state such have attained, O king, that tell; what is this such?' (13-69-8))

Thus, as he was speaking, Mādhava said to him: 'You have performed auspicious actions, not evil ones. How have you come to such a bad state, O king? Tell me, what is this situation?' (13-69-8)

शतं सहस्राणि शतं गवां पुनः; पुनः शतान्यष्ट शतायुतानि। त्वया पुरा दत्तमितीह शुश्रुम; नृप द्विजेभ्यः क्व नु तद्गतं तव ॥१३-६९-९॥

śataṃ sahasrāṇi śataṃ gavāṃ punaḥ; punaḥ śatānyaṣṭa śatāyutāni. tvayā purā dattam itīha śuśruma; nṛpa dvijebhyaḥ kva nu tad gataṃ tava ॥13-69-9॥

[शतं (śatam) - hundred; सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; शतं (śatam) - hundred; गवां (gavām) - of cows; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; शतानि (śatāni) - hundreds; अष्ट (aṣṭa) - eight; शतायुतानि (śatāyutāni) - tens of hundreds (i.e., thousands); त्वया (tvayā) - by you; पुरा (purā) - formerly; दत्तम् (dattam) - given; इति (iti) - thus; इह (iha) - here; शुश्रुम (śuśruma) - we have heard; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; द्विजेभ्यः (dvijebhyaḥ) - to the brahmins; क्व (kva) - where; नु (nu) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that; गतम् (gatam) - has gone; तव (tava) - of yours;]

(Hundred thousands, hundred of cows again; again, hundreds, eight ten hundreds (thousands); by you formerly given thus here we have heard, O king, to the brahmins; where indeed that has gone of yours?)

Hundreds of thousands and again hundreds of cows, and again hundreds and eight ten thousands, were given by you formerly, so we have heard here, O king, to the brahmins; where indeed has that gone of yours? (13-69-9)

नृगस्ततोऽब्रवीत्कृष्णं ब्राह्मणस्याग्निहोत्रिणः। प्रोषितस्य परिभ्रष्टा गौरेका मम गोधने ॥१३-६९-१०॥

nṛgas tato'bravīt kṛṣṇam brāhmaṇasya agnihotriṇaḥ। proṣitasya paribhraṣṭā gauḥ ekā mama godhane॥13-69-10॥

[नृगः (nṛgaḥ) - King Nṛga; ततः (tataḥ) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; कृष्णं (kṛṣṇam) - to Kṛṣṇa; ब्राह्मणस्य (brāhmaṇasya) - of the brāhmaṇa; अग्निहोत्रिणः (agnihotriṇaḥ) - performer of agnihotra; प्रोषितस्य (proṣitasya) - who was away; परिभ्रष्टा (paribhraṣṭā) - strayed; गौः (gauḥ) - cow; एका (ekā) - one; मम (mama) - my; गोधने (godhane) - in the herd of cows;]

(King Nṛga then spoke to Kṛṣṇa: Of the brāhmaṇa, performer of agnihotra, who was away, one cow, strayed, my, in the herd of cows.)

King Nṛga then said to Kṛṣṇa, "A single cow belonging to a brāhmaṇa who was away performing agnihotra strayed into my herd of cows." (13-69-10)

गवां सहस्रे सङ्ख्याता तदा सा पशुपैर्मम। सा ब्राह्मणाय मे दत्ता प्रेत्यार्थमभिकाङ्क्षता ॥१३-६९-११॥

gavāṃ sahasre saṅkhyātā tadā sā paśupair mama। sā brāhmaṇāya me dattā prety-artham abhikāṅkṣatā ॥13-69-11॥

[गवां (gavāṃ) - of cows; सहस्रे (sahasre) - in a thousand; सङ्ख्याता (saṅkhyātā) - counted; तदा (tadā) - then; सा (sā) - that (female); पशुपैः (paśupaiḥ) - with animals; मम (mama) - of mine; सा (sā) - she; ब्राह्मणाय (brāhmaṇāya) - to a Brāhmaṇa; मे (me) - by me; दत्ता (dattā) - given; प्रेत्यर्थम् (pretyartham) - for the purpose after death; अभिकाङ्क्षता (abhikāṅkṣatā) - desiring eagerly;]

(Of cows, in a thousand, counted, then, that one, with animals of mine. She, to a Brāhmaṇa, by me, given, for the purpose after death, eagerly desiring.)

Then that herd of a thousand cows belonging to me, counted along with the animals, was given by me to a Brāhmaṇa, eagerly desiring benefit for life after death. (13-69-11)

अपश्यत्परिमार्गंश्च तां यां परगृहे द्विजः। ममेयमिति चोवाच ब्राह्मणो यस्य साभवत् ॥१३-६९-१२॥

apaśyat parimārgaṃ ca tāṃ yāṃ para-gṛhe dvijaḥ। mama iyam iti ca uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ yasya sā abhavat॥13-69-12॥

[अपश्यत् (apaśyat) - he saw; परिमार्गम् (parimārgam) - sought; searched; च (ca) - and; ताम् (tām) - her; याम् (yām) - whom; परगृहे (para-gṛhe) - in another's house; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - the twice-born (Brahmin); मम (mama) - my; इयम् (iyam) - this (fem.); इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; उवाच (uvāca) - said; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - the Brahmin; यस्य (yasya) - to whom; सा (sā) - she; अभवत् (abhavat) - became;]

(He saw and searched her whom in another's house the Brahmin (or twice-born) (said), "this is mine"; and the Brahmin to whom she became (his).)

The Brahmin saw and searched for her in another's house—he said, "this is mine"; and she became the wife of the Brahmin to whom she belonged. (13-69-12)

तावुभौ समनुप्राप्तौ विवदन्तौ भृशज्वरौ। भवान्दाता भवान्हर्तेत्यथ तौ मां तदोचतुः ॥१३-६९-१३॥

tāv ubhau samanuprāptau vivadantau bhṛśajvarau। bhavān dātā bhavān harteti atha tau māṃ tad ūcatuḥ ॥13-69-13॥

[तौ (tau) - those two; उभौ (ubhau) - both; समनुप्राप्तौ (samanuprāptau) - both having come together; विवदन्तौ (vivadantau) - quarreling; भृशज्वरौ (bhṛśajvarau) - greatly feverish; भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful); दाता (dātā) - giver; भवान् (bhavān) - you (respectful); हर्ता (hartā) - taker; इति (iti) - thus; अथ (atha) - then; तौ (tau) - those two; माम् (mām) - me; तत् (tat) - that; ऊचतुः (ūcatuḥ) - both said;]

(Those two both having come together, quarreling, greatly feverish, "you are the giver, you are the taker"—thus then those two said that to me.)

Both of them, greatly feverish, met and quarreled, and then said to me: "You are the giver, you are the taker." (13-69-13)

शतेन शतसङ्ख्येन गवां विनिमयेन वै। याचे प्रतिग्रहीतारं स तु मामब्रवीदिदम् ॥१३-६९-१४॥

śatena śatasaṅkhyena gavāṃ vinimayena vai। yāce pratigrahītāraṃ sa tu māmabravīdidam ॥13-69-14॥

[शतेन (śatena) - by a hundred; शतसङ्ख्येन (śatasaṅkhyena) - with a number of a hundred; गवां (gavāṃ) - of cows; विनिमयेन (vinimayena) - by exchange; वै (vai) - indeed; याचे (yāce) - I ask; प्रतिग्रहीतारं (pratigrahītāraṃ) - the receiver; स (sa) - he; तु (tu) - but; माम् (mām) - to me; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; इदम् (idam) - this;]

(By a hundred, with a number of a hundred, of cows, by exchange, indeed, I ask the receiver; he, however, said this to me.)

Desiring to give a hundred cows or even more by way of exchange, I asked the recipient; but he said this to me. (13-69-14)

देशकालोपसम्पन्ना दोग्ध्री क्षान्तातिवत्सला। स्वादुक्षीरप्रदा धन्या मम नित्यं निवेशने ॥१३-६९-१५॥

deśakālopasampannā dogdhrī kṣāntātivatsalā। svādukṣīrapradā dhanyā mama nityaṃ niveśane ॥13-69-15॥

[देशकालोपसम्पन्ना (deśakālopasampannā) - endowed with proper place and time; दोग्ध्री (dogdhrī) - milch cow; क्षान्तातिवत्सला (kṣāntātivatsalā) - very enduring, exceedingly fond of her calf; स्वादुक्षीरप्रदा (svādukṣīrapradā) - giver of sweet milk; धन्या (dhanyā) - blessed; मम (mama) - my; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; निवेशने (niveśane) - in the house;]

(Endowed with proper place and time, milch cow, very enduring and exceedingly fond of her calf, giver of sweet milk, blessed, my, always, in the house.)

A milch cow, endowed with proper place and time, greatly enduring and deeply fond of her calf, always giving sweet milk, blessed, is always in my house. (13-69-15)

कृशं च भरते या गौर्मम पुत्रमपस्तनम्। न सा शक्या मया हातुमित्युक्त्वा स जगाम ह ॥१३-६९-१६॥

kṛśaṃ ca bharate yā gaur mama putram apastanam। na sā śakyā mayā hātum ity uktvā sa jagāma ha ॥13-69-16॥

[कृशं (kṛśam) - thin; च (ca) - and; भरते (bharate) - to Bharata; या (yā) - which; गौर् (gaur) - the cow; मम (mama) - my; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; अपस्तनम् (apastanam) - deprived of her calf; न (na) - not; सा (sā) - she; शक्या (śakyā) - possible; मया (mayā) - by me; हातुम् (hātum) - to abandon; इति (iti) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having said; स (sa) - he; जगाम (jagāma) - went; ह (ha) - indeed;]

(Thin and to Bharata, which cow my son deprived of her calf, not she possible by me to abandon, thus having said, he went indeed (13-69-16))

He said, "The thin cow, my son, which has lost her calf and is meant for Bharata, I am not able to abandon her," and so saying, he departed. (13-69-16)

ततस्तमपरं विप्रं याचे विनिमयेन वै। गवां शतसहस्रं वै तत्कृते गृह्यतामिति ॥१३-६९-१७॥

tatastamaparaṃ vipraṃ yāce vinimayena vai। gavāṃ śatasahasraṃ vai tatkṛte gṛhyatāmiti॥13-69-17॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तम् (tam) - him; परम् (aparam) - another; विप्रम् (vipram) - Brāhmaṇa; याचे (yāce) - I request; विनिमयेन (vinimayena) - by exchange; वै (vai) - indeed; गवाम् (gavām) - of cows; शतसहस्रं (śatasahasraṃ) - one hundred thousand; वै (vai) - indeed; तत्कृते (tatkṛte) - for that; गृह्यताम् (gṛhyatām) - let it be accepted; इति (iti) - thus;]

(Then him, another Brāhmaṇa, I request by exchange indeed. Of cows, one hundred thousand indeed, for that let it be accepted thus.)

Then, I requested that other Brāhmaṇa with an exchange—let one hundred thousand cows be accepted for that thus. (13-69-17)

ब्राह्मण उवाच॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca॥

[ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) - the brāhmaṇa; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The brāhmaṇa said.)

The brāhmaṇa said.

न राज्ञां प्रतिगृह्णामि शक्तोऽहं स्वस्य मार्गणे। सैव गौर्दीयतां शीघ्रं ममेति मधुसूदन ॥१३-६९-१८॥

na rājñāṃ pratigṛhṇāmi śakto'haṃ svasya mārgaṇe. saiva gaurdīyatāṃ śīghraṃ mameti madhusūdana ॥13-69-18॥

[न (na) - not; राज्ञां (rājñām) - of kings; प्रतिगृह्णामि (pratigṛhṇāmi) - I accept; शक्तः (śaktaḥ) - able; अहम् (aham) - I; स्वस्य (svasya) - of my own; मार्गणे (mārgaṇe) - in searching; सा एव (sā eva) - that indeed; गौर् (gaur) - cow; दीयताम् (dīyatām) - let be given; शीघ्रं (śīghram) - quickly; मम (mama) - to me; इति (iti) - thus; मधुसूदन (madhusūdana) - O Madhusudana;]

(Not of kings I accept, able I am not in searching of my own; that cow indeed let be given quickly to me, thus, O Madhusudana.)

I do not accept anything from kings, nor am I able to search on my own; therefore, let that cow be quickly given to me, O Madhusudana. (13-69-18)

रुक्ममश्वांश्च ददतो रजतं स्यन्दनांस्तथा। न जग्राह ययौ चापि तदा स ब्राह्मणर्षभः ॥१३-६९-१९॥

rukmam-aśvānś ca dadato rajataṃ syandanāṃs tathā। na jagrāha yayau cāpi tadā sa brāhmaṇa-ṛṣabhaḥ॥13-69-19॥

[रुक्मम् (rukmam) - gold; अश्वान् (aśvān) - horses; च (ca) - and; ददतः (dadatoḥ) - giving; रजतम् (rajatam) - silver; स्यन्दनान् (syandanān) - chariots; तथा (tathā) - thus; न (na) - not; जग्राह (jagrāha) - accepted; ययौ (yayau) - departed; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; तदा (tadā) - then; सः (saḥ) - he; ब्राह्मणर्षभः (brāhmaṇa-ṛṣabhaḥ) - the best among Brāhmaṇas;]

(Gold horses and also giving silver chariots thus; he did not accept, and also then he, the best among Brāhmaṇas, departed.)

He, the foremost Brāhmaṇa, did not accept the gold horses and silver chariots offered to him, but departed at that time. (13-69-19)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु चोदितः कालधर्मणा। पितृलोकमहं प्राप्य धर्मराजमुपागमम् ॥१३-६९-२०॥

etasminn eva kāle tu coditaḥ kāladharmaṇā। pitṛlokam ahaṃ prāpya dharmarājam upāgamam ॥13-69-20॥

[एतस्मिन्नेव (etasminn eva) - in this indeed; काले (kāle) - time; तु (tu) - but; चोदितः (coditaḥ) - urged; कालधर्मणा (kāladharmaṇā) - by Time's ordinance; पितृलोकम् (pitṛlokam) - realm of ancestors; अहम् (aham) - I; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having reached; धर्मराजम् (dharmarājam) - King Dharma; उपागमम् (upāgamam) - I approached;]

(In this very time, but urged by Time's ordinance, having reached the realm of ancestors, I, having obtained, approached King Dharma.)

At that very moment, urged by the ordinance of Time, I reached the realm of the ancestors and approached King Dharma. (13-69-20)

यमस्तु पूजयित्वा मां ततो वचनमब्रवीत्। नान्तः सङ्ख्यायते राजंस्तव पुण्यस्य कर्मणः ॥१३-६९-२१॥

yamastu pūjayitvā māṃ tato vacanamabravīt। nāntaḥ saṅkhyāyate rājaṃstava puṇyasya karmaṇaḥ ॥13-69-21॥

[यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama; (the god of death); तु (tu) - but; पूजयित्वा (pūjayitvā) - having worshipped; माम् (mām) - me; ततः (tataḥ) - then; वचनम् (vacanam) - speech; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; न (na) - not; अन्तः (antaḥ) - end; सङ्ख्यायते (saṅkhyāyate) - is counted; राजन् (rājan) - O king; तव (tava) - of your; पुण्यस्य (puṇyasya) - of merit; कर्मणः (karmaṇaḥ) - of deeds;]

(But Yama, having worshipped me, then spoke these words: "The end is not counted, O king, of your meritorious deeds." (13-69-21))

But Yama, after worshipping me, then said these words: "There is no limit, O king, to the merit of your deeds." (13-69-21)

अस्ति चैव कृतं पापमज्ञानात्तदपि त्वया। चरस्व पापं पश्चाद्वा पूर्वं वा त्वं यथेच्छसि ॥१३-६९-२२॥

asti caiva kṛtaṃ pāpam ajñānāt tad api tvayā। carasva pāpaṃ paścād vā pūrvaṃ vā tvaṃ yathecchasi ॥13-69-22॥

[अस्ति (asti) - there is; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; कृतं (kṛtam) - done; पापम् (pāpam) - evil act; अज्ञानात् (ajñānāt) - from ignorance; तदपि (tad api) - that also; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; चरस्व (carasva) - perform; पापं (pāpaṃ) - evil act; पश्चात् (paścāt) - afterwards; वा (vā) - or; पूर्वं (pūrvaṃ) - previously; वा (vā) - or; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; यथेच्छसि (yathecchasi) - as you desire;]

(There is indeed an evil act done by you from ignorance; that also—perform the evil act afterwards or previously, you as you desire.)

Indeed, there is an evil act done by you out of ignorance; therefore, perform the evil act later or earlier, as you wish. (13-69-22)

रक्षितास्मीति चोक्तं ते प्रतिज्ञा चानृता तव। ब्राह्मणस्वस्य चादानं त्रिविधस्ते व्यतिक्रमः ॥१३-६९-२३॥

rakṣitāsmīti coktaṃ te pratijñā cā-nṛtā tava। brāhmaṇasvasya ca ādānaṃ trividhaḥ te vyatikramaḥ॥13-69-23॥

[रक्षितास्मि (rakṣitāsmi) - I am protected; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; उक्तं (uktaṃ) - was said; ते (te) - by you; प्रतिज्ञा (pratijñā) - vow; च (ca) - and; अनृता (anṛtā) - not untrue; तव (tava) - your; ब्राह्मणस्वस्य (brāhmaṇasvasya) - of brāhmaṇa property; च (ca) - and; आदानं (ādānaṃ) - taking; त्रिविधः (trividhaḥ) - threefold; ते (te) - your; व्यतिक्रमः (vyatikramaḥ) - transgression;]

("I am protected," thus was said by you, and the vow is not untrue of yours; taking brāhmaṇa property and threefold is your transgression.)

You said, "I am protected"; your vow is not false. But taking the property of a brāhmaṇa and the threefold (transgression) is your offense. (13-69-23)

पूर्वं कृच्छ्रं चरिष्येऽहं पश्चाच्छुभमिति प्रभो। धर्मराजं ब्रुवन्नेवं पतितोऽस्मि महीतले ॥१३-६९-२४॥

pūrvaṃ kṛcchraṃ cariṣye'haṃ paścāc chubham iti prabho. dharmarājaṃ bruvann evaṃ patito'smi mahītale ॥13-69-24॥

[पूर्वं (pūrvaṃ) - first; previously; कृच्छ्रं (kṛcchram) - austerity; hardship; चरिष्ये (cariṣye) - I will perform; अहम् (aham) - I; पश्चात् (paścāt) - afterwards; शुभम् (śubham) - good; auspicious; इति (iti) - thus; so saying; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord; धर्मराजम् (dharmarājam) - Dharmarāja; king of righteousness; ब्रुवन् (bruvan) - saying; एवम् (evam) - thus; पतितः (patitaḥ) - fallen; अस्मि (asmi) - am I; महीतले (mahītale) - on the ground; on the earth;]

(First, austerity I will perform, I, afterwards good (deeds) thus, O lord, to Dharmarāja saying thus, fallen am I on the earth.)

Saying to Dharmarāja, "O lord, first I will undertake hardship, then (do) good," thus I have fallen on the earth. (13-69-24)

अश्रौषं प्रच्युतश्चाहं यमस्योच्चैः प्रभाषतः। वासुदेवः समुद्धर्ता भविता ते जनार्दनः ॥१३-६९-२५॥

aśrauṣaṁ pracyutaś cāhaṁ yamasyo'ccaiḥ prabhāṣataḥ। vāsudevaḥ samuddhartā bhavitā te janārdanaḥ॥13-69-25॥

[अश्रौषं (aśrauṣam) - I heard; प्रच्युतः (pracyutaḥ) - fallen away; च (ca) - and; अहम् (aham) - I; यमस्य (yamasya) - of Yama; उच्चैः (uccaiḥ) - loudly; प्रभाषतः (prabhāṣataḥ) - speaking; वासुदेवः (vāsudevaḥ) - Vasudeva; समुद्धर्ता (samuddhartā) - rescuer; भविता (bhavitā) - will be; ते (te) - your; जनार्दनः (janārdanaḥ) - Janardana;]

(I heard, and I, fallen away, as Yama was speaking loudly; Vasudeva, Janardana, will be your rescuer.)

I heard, when I, having fallen, was being addressed loudly by Yama; Vasudeva, Janardana, will be your savior. (13-69-25)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते क्षीणे कर्मणि दुष्कृते। प्राप्स्यसे शाश्वताँल्लोकाञ्जितान्स्वेनैव कर्मणा ॥१३-६९-२६॥

pūrṇe varṣa-sahasra-ante kṣīṇe karmaṇi duṣkṛte। prāpsyase śāśvatāṁl lokān jitān svenaiva karmaṇā॥13-69-26॥

[पूर्णे (pūrṇe) - having been completed; वर्षसहस्रान्ते (varṣa-sahasra-ante) - at the end of a thousand years; क्षीणे (kṣīṇe) - having been exhausted; कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in the action; दुष्कृते (duṣkṛte) - in the evil deed; प्राप्स्यसे (prāpsyase) - you will attain; शाश्वताँल्लोकान् (śāśvatān lokān) - the eternal worlds; जितान् (jitān) - obtained; स्वेनैव (svena eva) - by your own indeed; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action;]

(Having been completed at the end of a thousand years, when the evil deed is exhausted, you will attain the eternal worlds obtained by your own action indeed.)

At the end of a thousand years, when the evil deed is exhausted, you will attain the eternal worlds gained by your own action. (13-69-26)

कूपेऽऽत्मानमधःशीर्षमपश्यं पतितं च ह। तिर्यग्योनिमनुप्राप्तं न तु मामजहात्स्मृतिः ॥१३-६९-२७॥

kūpe'ātmānam adhaḥ-śīrṣam apaśyaṁ patitaṁ ca ha। tiryag-yonim anuprāptaṁ na tu mām ajahāt-smṛtiḥ ॥13-69-27॥

[कूपे (kūpe) - in the well; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - myself; अधःशीर्षम् (adhaḥ-śīrṣam) - head-downwards; अपश्यम् (apaśyam) - I saw; पतितम् (patitam) - fallen; च (ca) - and; ह (ha) - indeed; तिर्यग्योनिम् (tiryag-yonim) - animal womb; अनुप्राप्तम् (anuprāptam) - entered; न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; माम् (mām) - me; अजहात् (ajahāt) - did not abandon; स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ) - memory;]

(In the well, myself head-downwards I saw, fallen and indeed; animal womb entered, not but me did not abandon memory.)

I saw myself fallen head-down in a well and indeed entering an animal womb, but memory did not abandon me. (13-69-27)

त्वया तु तारितोऽस्म्यद्य किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्। अनुजानीहि मां कृष्ण गच्छेयं दिवमद्य वै ॥१३-६९-२८॥

tvayā tu tārito'smyadya kimanyatra tapobalāt। anujānīhi māṃ kṛṣṇa gaccheyaṃ divam adya vai॥13-69-28॥

[त्वया (tvayā) - by you; तु (tu) - but; तारितः (tāritaḥ) - have been made to cross; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; अद्य (adya) - today; किम् (kim) - what; अन्यत्र (anyatra) - else; तपःबलात् (tapo-balāt) - from the strength of austerity; अनुजानीहि (anujānīhi) - permit; माम् (mām) - me; कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) - Kṛṣṇa; गच्छेयं (gaccheyam) - may I go; दिवम् (divam) - to heaven; अद्य (adya) - today; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(By you but I have been made to cross today; what else from the strength of austerity? Permit me, O Kṛṣṇa, may I go to heaven today indeed.)

But today, O Kṛṣṇa, by your grace I have crossed (the world); what else could (be accomplished) by the power of austerity? Please permit me, may I go to heaven today indeed. (13-69-28)

अनुज्ञातः स कृष्णेन नमस्कृत्य जनार्दनम्। विमानं दिव्यमास्थाय ययौ दिवमरिंदम ॥१३-६९-२९॥

anujñātaḥ sa kṛṣṇena namaskṛtya janārdanam। vimānaṃ divyam āsthāya yayau divam ariṃ-dama ॥13-69-29॥

[अनुज्ञातः (anujñātaḥ) - permitted; स (sa) - he; कृष्णेन (kṛṣṇena) - by Kṛṣṇa; नमस्कृत्य (namaskṛtya) - having saluted; जनार्दनम् (janārdanam) - Janārdana; विमानं (vimānam) - airborne chariot; दिव्यम् (divyam) - divine; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having ascended; ययौ (yayau) - he went; दिवम् (divam) - to heaven; अरिंदम (ariṃ-dama) - conqueror of foes;]

(Permitted he by Kṛṣṇa, having saluted Janārdana, having ascended the divine chariot, he went to heaven, conqueror of foes.)

Permitted by Kṛṣṇa, he saluted Janārdana and, ascending the divine chariot, the conqueror of foes went to heaven. (13-69-29)

ततस्तस्मिन्दिवं प्राप्ते नृगे भरतसत्तम। वासुदेव इमं श्लोकं जगाद कुरुनन्दन ॥१३-६९-३०॥

tatas tasmin divaṃ prāpte nṛge bharatasattama. vāsudeva imaṃ ślokaṃ jagāda kurunandana ॥13-69-30॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; दिवम् (divam) - day; प्राप्ते (prāpte) - having arrived; नृगे (nṛge) - to Nṛga; भरतसत्तम (bharatasattama) - O best of the Bharatas; वासुदेव (vāsudeva) - Vāsudeva; इमम् (imam) - this; श्लोकम् (ślokam) - verse; जगाद (jagāda) - uttered; कुरुनन्दन (kurunandana) - O joy of the Kurus;]

(Then, when that day had arrived for Nṛga, O best of the Bharatas, Vāsudeva uttered this verse, O joy of the Kurus.)

Then, O best of the Bharatas, when that day had come for Nṛga, Vāsudeva uttered this verse, O delight of the Kurus. (13-69-30)

ब्राह्मणस्वं न हर्तव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता। ब्राह्मणस्वं हृतं हन्ति नृगं ब्राह्मणगौरिव ॥१३-६९-३१॥

brāhmaṇasvaṃ na hartavyaṃ puruṣeṇa vijānatā। brāhmaṇasvaṃ hṛtaṃ hanti nṛgaṃ brāhmaṇagauriva ॥13-69-31॥

[ब्राह्मणस्वं (brāhmaṇasvam) - brāhmaṇa's wealth; न (na) - not; हर्तव्यं (hartavyam) - to be taken; पुरुषेण (puruṣeṇa) - by a man; विजानता (vijānatā) - knowing; ब्राह्मणस्वं (brāhmaṇasvam) - brāhmaṇa's wealth; हृतं (hṛtam) - taken; हन्ति (hanti) - destroys; नृगं (nṛgam) - a man; ब्राह्मणगौः (brāhmaṇagauḥ) - brāhmaṇa's cow; इव (iva) - like;]

(Brāhmaṇa's wealth not to be taken by a man who knows; brāhmaṇa's wealth taken destroys a man, like a brāhmaṇa's cow.)

A man who knows should not take a brāhmaṇa's wealth; taking a brāhmaṇa's wealth destroys a person, just as a brāhmaṇa's cow would. (13-69-31)

सतां समागमः सद्भिर्नाफलः पार्थ विद्यते। विमुक्तं नरकात्पश्य नृगं साधुसमागमात् ॥१३-६९-३२॥

satāṃ samāgamaḥ sadbhirnāphalaḥ pārtha vidyate। vimuktaṃ narakātpaśya nṛgaṃ sādhusamāgamāt ॥13-69-32॥

[सतां (satāṃ) - of the good; समागमः (samāgamaḥ) - association; सद्भिः (sadbhiḥ) - with the virtuous; न (na) - not; अफलः (aphalaḥ) - fruitless; पार्थ (pārtha) - O Pārtha; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; विमुक्तम् (vimuktam) - liberated; नरकात् (narakāt) - from hell; पश्य (paśya) - see; नृगम् (nṛgam) - Nṛga; साधुसमागमात् (sādhusamāgamāt) - by association with the righteous;]

(Of the good association with the virtuous not fruitless, O Pārtha, exists. Liberated from hell, see Nṛga by association with the righteous.)

O Pārtha, association with the good is never fruitless. See how Nṛga was liberated from hell by association with the righteous. (13-69-32)

प्रदानं फलवत्तत्र द्रोहस्तत्र तथाफलः। अपचारं गवां तस्माद्वर्जयेत युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-६९-३३॥

pradānaṁ phalavattatra drohastatra tathāphalaḥ। apacāraṁ gavāṁ tasmādvarjayeta yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-69-33॥

[प्रदानम् (pradānam) - giving; (act of) bestowing; फलवत् (phalavat) - fruitful; with result; तत्र (tatra) - there; in that case; द्रोहः (drohaḥ) - harm; injury; तत्र (tatra) - there; in that case; तथा (tathā) - thus; likewise; फलः (phalaḥ) - result; fruit; अपचारम् (apacāram) - offence; misconduct; गवाम् (gavām) - of cows; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; वर्जयेत् (varjayet) - one should avoid; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (direct address);]

(Giving there is fruitful; harm there likewise is the result; therefore, offence to cows one should avoid, O Yudhiṣṭhira.)

Giving in that case yields fruit; harm likewise brings corresponding results. Therefore, O Yudhiṣṭhira, avoid any offence toward cows. (13-69-33)